Demountable rim.



E. OLlVER.

DEMOUNTABLE RIM.

APPLICATION mso JULY a. 1915.

Patented May 29, 1917.

3 1 7 1 1 1 W z M Z an MU 1 m 1 i M m 4 flu o 9 D J 60 n 0 1 fizmwi @Ziwer GLIVEIE, UTE DAZ'FJGNA, FLORID1..

DEIVLTQUNTABLE 3,131.

Application filed July i 1.315;.

wlom 2 canoe m:

:1 i1f-nu '1; s noun 11 me i, LAJILR Olin En, Li 01-11- lfltzites, residing at Day county of Voliisiziu and Maize o":

' l'tocl certain new :iml use- Demom mihle inns, cl?

a speciileittioin referierein to t ..e uei'zoznpzinying r to .iniproienients in stable I'lIDS for :iutoniohne wheels the wry object r s invention heing to PI'GYlCiQ a spliii cleinountsihle rim embodying novel anal improved means for connecting the i ends oge er and admit 1g of their rel: v movement whereby the operations contracting o. liXPZLllCll the rim for elzemiion of the tire will he *(1 mm the, amount oi l z: constr.

in i the rim Wll 1 e. free enrls oi the .t together, 3*: may hold relative displaceziieiiii.

The invenbion consists in the features ol? nonslmuclioii id the coi'nhiinil ion and airinngemeut of parts which will he herei iafter clescrihccl, defined in the appended uhi ms and illustrated in Che ZLCCOlIlQzHlXlllg (lrnwir in which:

Figul l is a side elevation of a (lemoimtuhle rim embodying my invention, shown 1- V hin Li edges ol the rim on :m enhirgcil scale;

Fig. 13 is a: similar VlPW o! t e rim, showing in full the oolii ng Illlll releasing rum. lover;

Fig. 2 is of the free emls l positions oi the :1 side elevzilinn ol the portion ul hel of the rim shown in I"; on an (:31 sca e" it is u, loiin'itiul nii section llliri'mgh ends of the i'Hll :iml silo-Wing llie mini roken {ml the mills hipped loiz riro Elm) irre

l designate :1. mi ii'hirh lr Specification of Letters Paienl.

.1', which is transversely split in and dotted lines,

as having {L pneumatic tire 2 l'nOllnl on, said rim consisting a body )or having the clenohei: or retaining lan the rim being providerh as usiieh xvi-uh ell thereopening for who inward extension of inc filling tail, l 5 1 the tire.

in accordance with my inventii '1 manner at one siclo th eof, us inoiczi'aerl n. 6, is formed of two sections '3 anal 8, havin free end portions 7 and 8, respeoliiv ly, said sections being united at one end by a hinge joint 9. In the formation of this hinge joint, which is located adjacent to but Elli one side. of 21 point diametrically opposite the split (h he hinging end of one of the sections is an; away to provide a central portion folded back and properly l ormecl and. rivetecl to provide ll central l opposite s enil of th :incl Sllllliiil J fol-men .l'mscliles ll L1. retir es them L l lm'uekle 9, the aforesaid km! lug 'iini knock cesses i {lQl'S 13 formed by the inner s of thc flanges 13 at JllO outer sides oi Sllll'l recesses, whereby :1 strong and durable type of hinge construction is provided which lies lush with the l aise of the shallow channel on the inner surface e the rim formen by the flan ind holgls the hinged ends oi the rim securely :ig inst lateral displacenwnt under any of the stresses or strains to whieli is may be subjected in use. 1

The lungs connection 9 adapts the rim to he conmaetml and exponilod with facility, 1t being understood that such contraction and ex 'mnsioii is seeiireiil by causing the free ends 1% andjiii of the rim to overlap shown in ll 1%, 5 and by hriiigizig; lliein togothsrns shown in Figs. 1, 3 uml l. When contracted, the, rim permits of lhe remly removal or implication of the tire, and. when expanded no its full exienl: the 21m 'l holds the' liire lirn'il v and against displacefiaeni. in mllvi' io seem creased. 'l l'llflilfill'l ml action in. I-lEPiIl'll-lflfl and eomieelioii of 14-. and 15 such (llllS of she in are provided with llfllll? or square :ihumneiii eilges ll; 11nd l7 iHl'UHS the rim holly illlli with flange lermimils hrn'in r hereled la r ping sun-limes l8 and l5) and Sfl llxgi', :i-r

straight abutment shoulders 18" and 19', said abutment shoulders 16, 17, 18 and 19 being adapted to squarely abut and the beveled or inclined edges 18 and 19 to overlap when the rim ends are brought together, by means of which the ends are coupled to maintain the rim securely in expanded condition.

It has been customary in some types of rims to have both the body portions and the flanges of the rim ends beveled or sloped continuously, but this is objectionable on account of the tendency of the sloping or inclined rim ends riding upon one. another and creeping or crawling, thus tending to permit the rim to break joint and contract at the split portions under pressures and strains imposed thereon. The usual object in so beveling the meeting ends of the rim is to facilitate the operation of bringing such rim ends together. I overcome the aforesaid objection while retaining the above stated advantage by providing the square abutment surfaces 16, 17, 18 and 19 which prevent the creeping or crawling actionreferred to, and by making the ends of the flanges with beveled surfaces, by which the sliding engagement of the rim ends into abutting relation in the operation. of expanding the wheel is effected in a reliable and efficient manner.

In the present instance I have shown the split portion 6 of the rim disposed opposite the perforated portionot' the rim through which the filling tube 6 of the tire projects, this arrangement being deemed advisable in order to relieve the perforated portion of the rim from the stresses and strains incident to expansion and contraction except to a very minimum extent, while providing also for certain manipulations of the rim in contrtzeting and expanding operations,- as hereinafter described. It will be observed that the hinge joint 9 is disposed at a point which is'eccentric to the position of the split 6, or, in other words, not on a line diametrically opposite the split, so that the two rim sections 7 and 8 are made to extend onarcs of different degrees, one being of somewhat greater circumferential length thanthe other. this construction the portion of the rim directly opposite the split portion is prevented from bending, buckling or becoming deformed by the movements of the free ends in the expanding and contracting operations, and easier and i'reer relative movements of the rim ends are also obtained without the necessity of providing more than a single hinge joint, and hence without weakening the wheel rim or providing additional joints or surfaces which are liable t .vear and tear and to cause trouble or annoyance as well as the possibility of accidents. By thus disposing the split and hinging portions they are also so relatively arranged as to be engaged by the wedges or fastening devices of the wheel rim proper, whereby suchportions will be firmly braced when applied to the wheel.

By the construction and arrangement described the split joint 6, when released or unfastened for disconnection, may be spread by disposing the split portion of the rim downward and bringing the portion of the tire beneath the end 8 of the short rim section 8 into contact with the floor or ground with a little degree of force, whereby the end 8 will be forced up out of engagement with the end 7 so that the rimwill be contracted automatically under the resiliency of the rim and tire to the position shown in Fi 5, in which position the tire 2 may be easily and conveniently applied or removed.

Such construction also allows of the ready and convenient expansion of the rim again to clamp the tire in position by pressure of the foot of the operator upon the end 8, the hinge joint 9 allowing the ends 7 and 8. to spread apart under the depression of the underlying portion of the tire so. that such ends of the rim will be moved to a joint closing action, thus entirely obviating the necessity of using complex or auxiliary appliances for adjusting the ends of the rim into and out of joint closing engagement.

For the purpose, however, of bringing the abutment edges 16 and 17 of the rim ends 7 and 8 squarely together in the event that they should not squarely meet, 1 provide upon the rim end 7 a pivotally mounted cam or eccentric disk 19, the peripheral edge portion of which is so arranged as to be brought .into engagement with the surface 17 of the end portion 8 to effect the spreading of the rim under the leverage thus introduced to a su'fliciently greater extent to bring the shoulders 16 and 17 squarely into engagement. This cam or eccentric is provided with an operating handle or lever 20 in the form of a plate whereby it may be conveniently manipulated, and this lever is preferably formed in one of its side edges with a notch or recess 21 to engage a headed pin or stud .22 on the end portion 8', by means of which the cam may be locked in thrown position and brought with the lever to overlie the split portion of the tire, thus firmly holding the ends '7 and 8 against casual disconnection. It will be understood of course that preliminarily to contracting the rim the lever is shifted to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 3, whereby the free ends of the rim will be released for an opening and contracting movement.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawing, the construction of my iln 'iroved demountable rim will be readily understood. and it will be seen that by reason of such construction a rim of a very simple type, free from complicated parts or attachments-of any kind, is pro ideal, and one which, while strong and durable. will permit of the split joint being broken and closed for the contraction and expansion of the rim without: the use of tools and in a ready, easy and convenient manner. Time and labor in changing tires will thus boreduced to the minimum, a -feature o'l Ll} i est-ability and mportai'ice in devices of this kind.

While E ia ucture disclosed is preferred, it will, of course, be understood that changes in the form, construction and arrangement of parts Within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims may be made. without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A demountable rim for pneumatic tires comprising a split rim body having end portions provided w th abutting surfaces and a cam or eccent ic disposed upon the inner surface of one of the abutting ends operative for direct in ngemcnt against the other abutting end I spread said abutting ends into abutting engagement.

2. A demountable rim for pneumatic tires comprising a split rim body having end portions provided with abutting surfaces, acam or eccentric disposed upon the inner surface one of the abutting ends operable for engagement with he other abutting end to spread said abutting ends into engagement, and a lever for operating said cam or eccentric and adapted "to overlap the latter named end of the rim when in thrown position.

3. A demountable rim for pneumatic tires comprising a rim body formed of two unequal sections, said sections being hinged at two of their ends and having abutting surfaces at their opposite ends, and a cam or eccentric disposed upon "the inner surface of one of the abutting ends and operative for direct impingement against the end edge of'the other abutting end to spread said abutting ends into abutting engagement.

4. A demountable rim for pneumatic tires comprising a rim body formed of two unequal sections, said sections being hinged at two of their ends and having abutting surfaces at theiroppositc ends, a cam or eccentrio on one of the abutting ends operable for engagement with the other abutting end to spread said abutting ends into engagement, and a lever for operating said cam or eccentric and adapted to overlap the latter named end of the rim when in thrown position.

A demountable rim for pneumatic tires comprising a rim body formed of two unequal sections, said sections being hinged at two of their ends and having abutting surfaces at their opposite ends, a cam or eccentrio-on one of the alniljting ends operable for engagement with the other abutting end lo spread Said abutting ends inlo engagement, a lever for operating said can; or cccentric, and means on the latter naiued abutcam or eccentric, and means on the latter named abutting end of too rim for locking cngagen'ient with said lever.

7. A demountablc rim for pneumatic tires comprising a split rim member having abutting ends, the body portions and flanges of said abutting ends being provided. with straight transverse abutment surfaces and revcrsely inclined lapping'surfaces, a cam or eccentric on one of the abutting ends of the rim adapted for engagement with the other abutting end or the rim to spread said ends into abutting and lapping engagement, and a lever for actuating said cam or eccentric.

8. A demountablc rim for pneumatic tires comprising a rim member formed of two unequa, sections hinged at two of their ends and having their body portions and flanges respectively provided at their oppositecads with straight transverse abutment surfaces and reverscly inclined lapping surfaces, a cam or eccentric on one of the latter named ends for engagement with the other of said ends to spread said ends into abutting and lapping engagement, and a lever for operating said cam or eccentric and adapted to overlap the latter named end of the rim when in thrown position.

9. A demountable lllll l'or pneumatic tires comprising a rim n'ieinber formed of two unequal sections hinged at two of their ends and having their body portions and flanges respectively provided at their opposite ends with straight transverse abutment surfaces and rcversely inclined lapping surfaces, a cam or eccentric on one of the latter named ends for engagement with the other of said ends to spread said ends into abutting and lapping engagement, and a lever for actuating said cam or eccentric.

10. Ademoui'itable rim for pneumatic tires i comprising a split rim member provided -with abutting ends having their body portions and flanges provided with straight llll abutting M14} 151 pping engagement, a lever In testimony whereof I herunto affix my foractuating saml can; 01 eccentric and slgnatu're 1n the presence of two wltnesses. adapted to uverhp "the. luflaer named abutting end 01 Hm rim when in thrown pos'L- ELMER OLIVER tien, and means on the latter named abut- \Vitnesses:

king and of the aim for locking engagement F. ,W. POPE,

with said leven V. H. BRACEY. 

